How to Divide Perennials

Discover the art of dividing perennials so you can enjoy their beauty for years to come.

Whether you’re a novice gardener or were born with a green thumb, a short refresher course on the basics of perennials gets you ready for the upcoming months. Learning the basics with this step-by-step guide will help you keep your perennials coming back so you can look forward to them every season.

Why Divide Perennials?Multiple growing seasons cause perennials to flower less often, become weak or run out of growing room, which causes them to take over neighboring plants. Dividing helps them remain healthy and blooming, plus it yields more plants.

When to Divide PerennialsPerennials can be divided at any point during their growing cycle, but warning signs to watch for include:

Reduced flowering and smaller leaves

Outer edges of the plant are healthier than the center

Center stalks of the plant are weak or dead

The plant has run out of room to spread

Tip : Try to divide when plants are still healthy but not too large — typically in early spring when new growth is low to the ground, or in early fall when the sun is less harsh.